About Human Liver

Liver is the largest abdominal organ. Liver is situated on the right side of upper abdomen behind the ribs and is triangular in shape. Liver weighs about
1200 – 1500 grams in an average individual of 60-70 Kilograms, roughly 2% of body weight.

Liver though a single organ, broadly it can be divided into two parts – right and left hemi liver and 8 independent segments (each having its own blood supply and biliary drainage) functioning as a single organ. Unlike kidneys which are two different organs and situated separately on either side in the body; liver is a single organ. However it too can be divided anatomically in two or more parts.

Liver as a whole has one hepatic artery supplying oxygenated blood, a portal vein carrying blood from intestines to liver and a bile duct draining bile formed in the liver to intestines. All these three structures divide into two branches to supply and drain from two lobes of the liver. Blood from liver is delivered to heart via three hepatic veins for purification.

Liver is supported by ligaments; triangular and coronary ligament on either side and falciform ligament in the centre. Liver produces bile which is drained by biliary tree. Gall bladder is a reservoir for the bile lies on the liver bed, and is attached to bile duct. It regulates delivery of bile into intestines.

Liver is endowed with remarkable capacity to regenerate after division into parts. This is the basis of Live Related Liver Transplants, and the reason why live related liver transplant is possible.

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